Important For Ferrari To React From Italian Grand Prix Loss – Maurizio Arrivabene

Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Maurizio Arrivabene says the championship is not over yet, but admits that the result the Italian team secured at the Italian Grand Prix was not what they wanted to give for the fans.

Both Ferrari drivers of Kimi Räikkönen and Sebastian Vettel started out on the front row for the race at Monza, but could only secure a second and fourth place.

Vettel’s race was compromised on the opening lap when he made contact with Lewis Hamilton, causing damage and Vettel to spin to the back of the pack. The German was able to climb his way back through the field to finish in fourth place.

Räikkönen led majority of the race but suffered heavy tyre wear on the soft compounds when he was held up by Valtteri Bottas, allowing Hamilton to close up and take the lead of the race.

Vettel now lies 30 points behind Hamilton in the championship, with Ferrari 25 points short from Mercedes in the constructors’ title.

Arrivabene says that the result today was not what the team wanted to give to their fans on home soil, but praises them for their support throughout the weekend.

”Definitely not the result we were looking for to give to our fans, who supported us in fine style all weekend, for which I thank them on behalf of the entire team,” said Arrivabene.

“After the collision at the second chicane, Kimi had to fight two opponents on his own, while Seb, in a badly damaged car, fought his way up the order.”

F1 will now head to the flyaway races, the scene of where Ferrari’s title aspirations fell apart with incidents and reliability issues hitting the Italian team, handing the title to Hamilton and Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport last year.

Ferrari will be hoping that doesn’t repeat as they aim to seek their first title since 2008, with Arrivabene saying it’s important to react from this result and not give up with the title hopes ahead of the next round in Singapore.

“We know we have a very strong car, which was clearly demonstrated by the fact we monopolised the front row of the grid. Now, the important thing is to react as a team, in an orderly and determined fashion, without ever giving up” Arrivabene continued.

“There is still a long way to go in the championship and we are already preparing for the next challenge in Singapore.”